Back to Belize

Journal #24

Back to Belize

January 26, 2012

Back to Belize

The morning started late, I woke up at 7:00 and the girls both got up at 8:30. After we hurried and got ready, we headed down to town so we could get breakfast. We had walked past this cute little cafe and knew that we wanted to try it. It was called Paradise and everything was homemade. I ordered a bagel with cream cheese and a fruit bowl. After breakfast we walked back through town and stopped at some gift-shops and markets. We then headed back to the hotel and dropped all of our purchases off. We changed into our swimsuits and walked down to the ocean. It was really warm and sunny which was super nice for our last day in the water. After we were done swimming, we asked opinions for lunch places and decided that we wanted our last meal on the island to be delicious! We ended up eating at Bambooze, an outdoor restaurant where you eat on swings. I had bbq grilled chicken, mashed potatoes, and cole slaw. After lunch we went back to the hotel where we swam for a little bit in the pool, until our boat was scheduled to arrive. We headed down to the dock and waited for the ferry to arrive.... and, we waited.

Like this entire time in Belize, this too was not on time. When the boat did arrive, I started to get a little nervous- it was tiny, all enclosed, and there was no way were were all going to fit inside. We literally ended up sitting on other people and had to share what little leg room we did have. As soon as my feet hit the dock, I started to get sick. I ended up laying across Hannah and fell asleep to keep me from puking. Thankfully, Hannah and Damon took care of me the entire hour (that seemed like an entire day!)!

When I was on land, it took me a few minutes to feel stabilized. We met Dwight after a long walk to his bus, and he took us to dinner. We ate at Birds Isle, an outdoor restaurant right on the water. It was awesome to eat dinner where we could see the lights on the shore of Belize, see the lightening in the distance, and watch the boats and activities on the water. I had a pork chop, mashed potatoes, cole-slaw, and lime juice! I will sure miss the fresh lime juice when I return to Ohio.

After dinner we headed back to the hotel that we stayed at Sunday night, and I was excited to have warm water again! We had a communion service with the Senior Colloquium group as well as the business group. We were challenged to think about what we had given, and also what we have been given.

I do not even know where to start in reflecting on all that I have been given. I have learned so much from this experience and have a different view on relationships, material possessions, and so much more. I have not given this country near as much as it has given me. I know that the people of Belize are very appreciative of all that we have done and the prayers that will be said for them as we return home, too, but the gifts that I have given are not comparable to the gifts that I have been given.

We packed all of our things and went to bed.